Apparatus for feeding yarn to be twisted



Sept. 2, 1969 J. P. BAGLINO ET AL 3,

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING YARN TO BE TWISTED Filed March 18, 1968 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 2, 1969 J. P. BAGLINO ET AL 7 3,464,193

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING YARN TO BE TWISTED Filed March 18, 1968 6Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTO R N EYS Sept. 2, 1969 J, BAGLlNo ET AL I 3,464,196

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING YARN TO BE TWISTED Filed March 18, 1968 6Sheets-Sheet 4 TIEA:

M17142: ATTORNEYS Sept. 2, 1969 J p BAGLINO ET AL 3,464,196

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING YARN TO BE TWISTED Filed March 18, 1968 I 6Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS JaM RBAQUAM Mos 04,435 05/7055 ATTO R N EY pRBAGLINO ET AL $464,196

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING YARN TO BE TWISTED Filed March 18, 1968 6Sheets-Sheet 6 &

INVENTOR S Jo/m/ F 34 4 we Ave/m4 as 606/ 7055 sip/M. arr/ 54m 055#zsrae A Z ova/W0 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,464,196 APPARATUS FORFEEDING YARN TO BE TWISTED John P. Baglino, Scranton, Nicholas F.Gubitose, Clarks Green, and Joseph R. Rappenglueck and Chester L.Loveland, Dalton, Pa., assignors to US. Textile Machine Company,Scranton, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 18, 1968, Ser.No. 713,878 Int. Cl. D01h 13/02, 13/04 U.S. Cl. 57--90 11 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for twisting yarn comprising a beamadapted to carry a plurality of yarn ends to define a cylindrical yarnpackage, a plurality of twisting stations arranged for the feedingthereto from the beam of the yarn ends and guide means for guiding theyarn ends from the beam to the twisting stations and permitting feedbackalong the yarn ends of twist imparted thereto at the twisting stations.

This invention relates to apparatus for twisting yarn. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a novel and highly advantageoussystem for feeding a plurality of yarn ends from a beam to a pluralityof twisting stations.

In conventional twisting machines or frames, for example, ring twistingmachines, there is provided a plurality of twisting stations, generallyarranged in at least one line. In a typical ring twisting machine, forexample, there may be two parallel and coextensive lines of twistingstations, each line comprising a like plurality, for instance, twentyring twisters. At the center of the machine is supported for rotationabout an axis parallel to these lines a large cylindrical yarn packagecore or support several feet in length and having an annular flange ateach end. This yarn package core is known as a beam. A plurality of yarnends, one for each of the twisting stations of the twisting machine, arewound in parallel array on the beam.

By means of yarn guides, each yarn end is led from the beam to arespective one of the twisting stations. At the twisting stations, therespective yarn ends are snubbed, i.e., restrained from rotating abouttheir axes, at a first point while at a second point shortly downstreamtherefrom caused to rotate about their axes. This combination ofsnubbing at one point and rotation at a second point, of course, placesa twist in the yarn. The portion of the yarn, however, still upstream ofthe snubbing point :remains untwisted, i.e., feedback of the twist alongthe yarn stops at the snubbing point. As a consequence, each yarn end isin an untwisted state between the beam and the respective twistingstation at which the yarn is twisted.

It will be appreciated that due to the lines of twisting stations beingsubstantially longer than the beam, the yarn ends are fed from the beamor the immediate vicinity thereof to the twisting stations in fan-likepatterns, one of these patterns for each of the lines of twistingstations. The yarn ends comprising these fan-like patterns are untwistedand, accordingly, are relatively bulky compared to yarn ends in thetwisted state. A common problem in the prior art has been for theseuntwisted and therefore relatively bulky yarn ends, which, moreover,must travel in close array over very substantial distances, to becomeentangled, causing knots, breaks and other apparent operatingdifficulties.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an arrangement forfeeding a plurality of yarn ends from such a beam to such twistingstations in a manner which will overcome the foregoing ditfic-ulties.Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description.

Briefly, according to the invention, apparatus is provided whereby theyarn ends are snubbed at or adjacent the yarn package formed on the beamrather than at the twistmg stations and are not snubbed again beforereachmg or at the twisting stations whereby twist imparted to the yarnends at the twisting station is fed back all the way to the snubbingpoints at or adjacent the yarn package. Thus, in their extended travelfrom the vicinity of the beam to the twisting stations, the yarn endsare in a twisted rather than an untwisted state and it is found thatthereby the problem of entanglement described above is substantiallymitigated and overcome.

The invention will be described in somewhat more detail by reference toa ring twisting machine. It will be appreciated, however, that theinvention has equal applicability to other twisting machines.

Ring twisting machines are conventionally provided with a pair of niprolls at each twisting station (as shown, for example, in commonlyassigned copending application Ser. No. 690,628, filed Dec. 14, 1967) ora single pair of nip rolls extending axially from twisting station totwisting station, which is exactly equivalent. Each yarn end passesthrough and is snubbed by such a nip and several inches therefrom aconventional ring twister rotates the yarn about its axis while windingit on a bobbin whereby the yarn is simultaneously twisted and wound. Thetwist travels upstream only so far as the nip. In applying the presentinvention to a ring twisting machine, these nip rolls are not utilized.It has been found that the twist is fed back along each yarn end all theway to the point at which the yarn tangentially leaves the yarn packageformed on the beam.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a pair of nip rolls isprovided adjacent and parallel to the beam and yarn ends are fed fromthe beam through the nip of this pair of nip rolls in a substantiallyparallel array before being distributed in the aforementioned fan-likepattern to the twisting stations. Again, no nip ping at the twistingstations is utilized. In this embodiment, the twist is fed back alongeach of the yarn ends to the nip of the rolls adjacent the beam. Thisarrangement is found desirable when an extremely high twist, namely,about 12 turns per inch or higher, is being imparted to the yarn. It isfound that at such high levels of twist, feedback of the twist all theway to the beam can cause entanglement on the beam.

According to another aspect of the invention, it is preferred to drivethe beam by means of a set of rolls frictionally engaging the surface ofthe yarn package formed on the beam; and adjacent to each other engagingthe surface of the yarn package, to form a cradle for the beam. When thesnubbing is to be at the beam, it is found that such a drivingarrangement provides more positive snubbing since the drive rolls andthe yarn package together form a nip. Moreover, this arrangementeliminates the problem of braking the beam. Specifically, in the priorart, the beam is generally not positively driven but, rather, it isdriven by the pulling of the yarns. Thus, for example, in a conventionalring twisting machine, the above referred to nip rolls at the twistingstations are positively driven and thereby pull the yarn ends and thispulling of the yarn ends causes the beam to rotate. Since the beam has aconsiderable moment of inertia, the speed of the beam can readily buildup to the point where it overruns the rate at which the yarn is beingwithdrawn; furthermore, there is the problem of stopping the beam whenit is desired to shut the machine down. It has thus been theconventional prior art practice to provide braking means on the shaft ofthe beam. An advantage of the present invention is that with positivedrive of the beam no braking means is needed because the speed of thebeam is directly controlled by the speed of the motor driving the rollwhich in turn drives the beam.

As pointed out above, the invention finds its greatest usefulness whenthe axial length of the beam is substantially greater than the axiallength of a substantially parallel line of twisting stations to whichyarn ends are being fed from the beam. By susbtantially greater lengthis means that the line of twisting stations is at least about 9.5 timesas long as the axial length of the beam.

The invention will now be further described by reference to specificembodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a ring twisting machineincorporating the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the machin of FIG. 1, viewed from theright hand side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation as in FIG. 2, showing a portion of the righthand end of the beam system as viewed in FIG. 2, in detail;

- FIG. 5 is a detail of the side elevation of FIG. 3, showing the meansfor separating the yarns from the yarn package in greater detail;

FIG. 6 is a plan view in deail of the front portion of the right handend of the beam system as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing in detail one of the yarn guidesemployed;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a modification, to be comparedwith FIG. 3;

- FIG. 9 is a detail for comparison with FIG. 4, to further illustratethe above mentioned modification; and

FIG. 10 is a detail for comparison with FIG. 5, to still furtherillustrate the above mentioned modification.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a yarn package 10 defined by aplurality of yarn ends 11 wound in parallel on a beam 12 rests on twodrive rolls 13 and 13, the rolls 13 and 13' being essentially axiallyparallel to the axis of the beam 12 and coextensive therewith (FIG. 1).A motor 14 drives the rolls 13 and 13' by means of a train ofintermeshing gears 15, 16, 17 and 17. Rolls 13 and 13' are therebycaused to rotate counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 whereby the yarnpackage 10 is rotated clockwise.

One fraction of the yarn ends, 11a, is tangentially guided from thesurface of the yarn package 10 by being passed over and in contact witha separating roll 18 which is axially essentially coextensive with andparallel to the beam 12. Since the axis of the separating roll 18 isessentially parallel to the axis of the beam 12, the points at whicheach of the yarn ends 11a are withdrawn from the yarn package 10 liealong a line on the surface of the yarn package 10 which also isessentially parallel to the axis of the beam 12. By a like arrangement,a second fraction of the yarn ends, the remainder of the yarn ends 11b,is tangentially separated from the yarn package 10 by a secondseparating roll 19 along a second line on the yarn package parallel tothe axis of the beam 12. Conveniently, these two axial lines ofseparation are separated by about 180 on the surface of the yarn package10.

By means of yarn guides 20, 21 and 22, yarn ends 11a are guided torespective twisting stations, namely, ring twisters 23, where they arewound on rotating bobbins 24 while being rotated about their axes. Thering twisters 23 are arranged in a line parallel to the axis of the beam12, the beam 12 being centered relative thereto and the line of ringtwisters 23 being as much as 9.5 times the length of the beam 12. Theother yarn ends, 1111, are exactly in the same manner guided to a secondline of 4 ring twisters, parallel to and coextensive with the firstline. The axis of the beam 12 is centered with respect to the two linesof ring twisters.

The separating roll 18 and the yarn guides 20, 21 and 22 do not preventfeedback of the twist imparted to the yarn ends 11a by the ring twisters23. Feedback of the twist in the yarn ends 11a is not halted until thetwist reaches the nip defined by the drive roll 13' and the yarn package11. An identical arrangement of yarn guides is employed for the yarns11b.

Referring to the apparatus in somewhat greater detail, it is seen thatthe beam 12 is provided with an axial shaft 12 which rests in yokes 12aand 12b (FIGS. 2 and 3). Yarn guide is constituted of a V-shaped support(FIG. 6) mounting a plurality of saddle-shaped individual yarn guides(shown in detail in FIG. 7) which change the direction of travel of theyarn ends by angles slightly less than 90. The yarn guides 26 are eachprovided with a bracket 27 having a hole 28 for a bolt for mounting ofthe yarn guide. The yarn guides 21, to which the yarn ends are passedafter leaving the yarn guides 26, are of the same configuration as theyarn guides 26. The yarn guides 22 through which the yarn ends arefinally led are simple loops, sometimes known as pigtail guides.

While the foregoing arrangement has been found completely satisfactoryfor preventing entanglement among the yarn ends when the degree of twistbeing placed in the yarn ends is less than about 12 turns per inch, ithas been found that at relatively high degrees of twist of about 12turns per inch or higher, with the foregoing arrangement someentanglement of the yarn ends may occur on the yarn package. Amodification has been found which is suitable for overcoming thisproblem and which, moreover, can also be employed at lower degrees oftwist. The modification is particularly shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.Moreover, the unmodified apparatus as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is in aform adapted for ready conversion to the modification of FIGS, 8, 9 and10.

The separating roll 18 is provided with a shaft 18a at each of its endsand each of the shafts rests in a yoke 30 for rotation (FIGS. 4 and 5).Each of the arms of the yoke 30 is provided with an upright bolt 31. Abracket 32 provided with holes (not shown) for passage therethrough ofthe bolts 31 is mounted on the yoke 30 by means of the bolts 31. Then,on each of the bolts 31 is placed a helical spring 33. Finally, wingnuts 34 are screwed onto the bolts 31 to bias the spring 33 against thebracket 32.

To effect the aforementioned modification, one simply removes the clamp32, places a second roller 40, which is like roller 18, over roller 18,roller 40, like roller 18, having shafts which rotatably fit in the yoke30, and, finally, reassembles the clamp assembly (namely, clamp 32,springs 33 and wing nuts 34). The rolls 18 and thereby define a nip andthe pressure in the nip may be adjusted by tightening down or looseningup on the nuts 34 (FIGS. 9 and 10). It will be appreciated that whereasonly one end of. this arrangement has been shown, it is the same at theother end and, furthermore, a like arrangement may be provided withrespect to the other separating roll, 19. In the specific embodimentherein described, which is particularly desirable for yarn ends in whichabout twelve turns per inch or greater twist is being imparted, a niproll arrangement is provided with separator roll 19 as well as withseparator roll 18, this being schematically illustrated in FIG. 8. Theroll emsuring that the fan-like portion of the yarn 11 shown in FIG. 1is twisted thereby avoiding the prior art difiiculties mentionedhereinbefore.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for twisting yarn comprising a beam adapted to carry aplurality of yarn ends to define a cylindrical yarn package, arestraining arrangement for said yarn ends adjacent to said beam, aplurality of twisting stations arranged for the feeding thereto from thebeam of the yarn ends and said restraining arrangement, and guide meansfor guiding the yarn ends from the beam to the twisting stations andpermitting feedback along the yarn ends of twist imparted thereto atsaid twisting stations to said restraining arrangement.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the twisting stations arearranged in a line essentially parallel to the axial length of the beam.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the line along which saidtwisting stations are arranged is substantially longer than the axis ofsaid beam.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means forrotationally driving said beam.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which said driving means comprisesa rotationally driven roll the axis of which is essentially parallel tothe axis of the beam and which is arranged to frictionally engage thesurface of said yarn package.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said restraining arrangementis a nip formed between said rotationally driven roll and said beam.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second line oftwisting stations parallel to and coextensive with the aforementionedline of twisting stations, first means to separate a first fraction ofsaid yard ends from said yarn package at a first line along the surfaceof said package and substantially parallel to the axis of said beam,second means to separate a second fraction of said yarns from said yarnpackage at a second line along the surface of said package andsubstantially parallel to the axis of said beam, and means for guidingthe yarn ends of one of said fractions to the twisting stations of oneof said line of twisting stations and the yarn ends of the other of saidfractions to the twisting stations of the other of said lines oftwisting stations.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which said first and said secondseparating means each comprise a roll spaced from and extending alongthe length of the yarn package and substantially parallel to the axis ofthe beam.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said restraining arrangementfurther comprises a pair of rolls defining a nip, said rolls beingarranged intermediate said beam and said twisting stations for feedingthrough said nip of at least a fraction of said yarns in a substantiallyparallel array, whereby twist imparted at said twisting stations to saidyarn ends passing through said nip is prevented by said nip from beingfed back past said nip along said yarn ends passing through said nip.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said restraining arrangementfurther comprises a second pair of rolls defining a second nip andarranged intermediate said beam and said twisting stations for feedingthrough said second nip of a second fraction of said yarns in asubstantially parallel array, whereby twist imparted at said twistingstations to said first and said second fractions of said yarn ends isprevented by said nips from being fed back past said nips along saidfirst and said second fractions of said yarn ends.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which each of said twistingstations comprises a ring twister.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,146,238 7/1915 Cotter 57901,400,026 12/1921 Chadwick 5775 2,387,869 10/ 1945 Arrington 57902,871,650 2/1959 Kooistra 5790 FOREIGN PATENTS 168,359 8/ 1921 GreatBritain.

JOHN PETRAKES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5792, 106

